Understanding the Dacian Wars

[guy]

 

We have had surprisingly few posts about the Dacian Wars. Below is a good video on the conflicts.

 

The Battles of Tapae were pivotal clashes between the Dacians and Romans during the late 1st century and early 2nd century CE. Here's a summary of the three battles:

1. First Battle of Tapae (86 CE):

   • Occurred during the reign of Roman Emperor Domitian.

   • The Dacians, led by King Duras and their brilliant commander Decebalus, decisively defeated the Romans under Cornelius Fuscus, inflicting heavy casualties and capturing Roman military standards.

   • The defeat prompted Rome to reassess its strategy in dealing with the Dacians.

2. Second Battle of Tapae (88 CE):

   • Fought during Domitian's continued campaigns against Dacia.

   • This time, the Romans under General Tettius Julianus claimed victory, turning the tide against the Dacians.

   • Despite the Roman success, political distractions within the empire led to a temporary peace with Dacia rather than further conquest. 

     Emperor Domitian made a temporary peace with Dacia in 89 CE following the Second Battle of Tapae. Although the Romans had achieved a victory under General Tettius Julianus, Domitian was dealing with other challenges, including internal political unrest and threats along Rome's borders, particularly from Germanic tribes.

     The peace agreement, often referred to as a foedus, was unusual because Domitian granted favorable terms to the Dacian king Decebalus. Rome agreed to pay subsidies, including annual payments of gold, and provide technical support, such as Roman engineers for strengthening Dacian fortifications. Some saw this treaty in Rome as a humiliation, as it effectively acknowledged Dacia as a semi-independent power rather than subduing it completely.

     The peace held until Emperor Trajan launched his campaigns to conquer Dacia definitively between 101 and 106 CE.

3. Third Battle of Tapae (101 CE):

   • Took place during the reign of Emperor Trajan, as he sought to conquer Dacia permanently.

   • Trajan’s forces defeated Decebalus, weakening the Dacian resistance and paving the way for further Roman advances in the Second Dacian War (105–106 CE).

   • This battle marked a turning point leading to Dacia’s eventual annexation into the Roman Empire.

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Trajan's Column is a monumental piece of Roman art and architecture, completed in 113 CE. It commemorates Emperor Trajan's victory in Dacia.

Trajan's Column is a marble monument that stands 35 meters (115 feet) tall, including the base and the statue of Trajan, which was later replaced by a statue of Saint Peter. Its intricate spiral relief stretches approximately 200 meters when unrolled and contains 155 scenes. The relief features over 2,600 human figures, along with animals, landscapes, and architectural elements.

 

A walk up Trajan’s column:

 

A gilded statue of Trajan was once on top of the column

 

 

Edited Sunday at 10:06 PM by guy